Robbery suspect turns himself in

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor.

HART — After being on the lam for nearly five days, a 29-year-old Hart man accused of the strong-arm robbery at the Hart Express EZ Mart Sunday night turned himself in to authorities late Thursday afternoon, Hart Police Chief Dan Leimback said Friday morning, April 24.

The suspect has been charged with unarmed robbery, which is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, Leimback said.

Local police spent the last several days searching for the suspect, who was at large since the robbery. He was spotted by police Monday afternoon in the M-20/Oceana Drive area and fled in a vehicle. He was then seen in the Woodrow Road/112th Avenue area and fled on foot. The Lake County K-9 Unit was called in to track the suspect, but the rainfall made tracking difficult.

No one else is being charged in connection to the robbery or the man’s elusion from authorities, Leimback said.

Court officials from 78th District Court are expecting to arraign the man some time today, and his name will be released following his arraignment.